Conquering Light: A Mission Beyond Our Salvation

by | Dec 23, 2024 | Christmas, Great Light

While we often view Jesus’ primary mission on Earth as securing our salvation, His work went far beyond simply redeeming humanity. His time on the cross and His ministry before it revealed a much greater purpose. He came not only to bear the penalty for sin but also to confront and destroy the very essence of darkness and sin itself, addressing its roots in both the spiritual and earthly realms.

“The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. For this purpose, the Son of God was revealed: to destroy the works of the devil.” 1 John 3:8, CSB

To understand the scope of His full mission, we must first consider the origins of darkness. Scripture identifies sin as a rebellion that began not on Earth but in Heaven.

“Then war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But the dragon was not strong enough to prevail, so there was no longer any place left in heaven for him and his angels. So that huge dragon—the ancient serpent, the one called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world—was thrown down to the earth, and his angels along with him.” Revelation 12:7-9, NET

Sin and all its effects had to be eradicated without destroying humanity. This is similar to modern cancer treatment, where the goal is to eliminate the cancer and its harmful impact while preserving as much of the patient’s healthy body as possible. In the same way, darkness and sin were pervasive forces that had to be confronted, and the rebellious heavenly influences had to be dealt with and removed.

“Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, he likewise shared in their humanity, so that through death he could destroy the one who holds the power of death (that is, the devil), and set free those who were held in slavery all their lives by their fear of death. For surely his concern is not for angels, but he is concerned for Abraham’s descendants.” Hebrews 2:14-16, NET

“And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these He has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.” Jude 1:6, NIV

“For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but threw them into hell and locked them up in chains in utter darkness, to be kept until the judgment…” 2 Peter 2:4, NET

Through His death, Jesus achieved a decisive victory over the spiritual forces of evil. As Paul writes:

“Having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” Colossians 2:15, NIV

This triumph assures believers that evil’s grip is broken and that the power of light will always overcome darkness (John 1:5). The victory on the cross over all types and forms of evil was complete and total.

“When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; He has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” Colossians 2:13-15, NIV

“Since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity so that by His death He might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” Hebrews 2:14-15, NIV

“He exerted when He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the church.” Ephesians 1:20-22, NIV

The dark powers were completely caught off guard by what God was doing on the Cross. If they had known, they would not have crucified Him.

“Now we do speak wisdom among the mature, but not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are perishing. Instead, we speak the wisdom of God, hidden in a mystery, that God determined before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood it. If they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” 1 Corinthians 2:6-8, NET

And now all humanity has the opportunity to walk free of the power of evil through the work of the Cross.

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39, NIV

“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.’” Matthew 28:18, NIV

“Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11, NIV

These passages affirm that Jesus’ work on the cross not only secured our salvation but also displayed His victory over sin, death, and the spiritual forces of evil. His triumph allows believers to live in freedom, fully confident in His ultimate authority over all powers. Through the cross, He opened the door for all of humanity and creation itself to walk in His light and truth. We each must choose to walk through that door, and one day, all of creation will follow.

Christ is the ultimate victor—CHRISTUS VICTOR!

Joseph – The Stepfather of Jesus

by | Dec 8, 2023 | Christmas, What gift will you bring?

St Joseph and the Christ Child in the Carpentry Workshop, by Pietro Annigoni 1963 at Church of San Lorenzo, Firenze © Christian Art Today

Joseph, the earthly stepfather of Jesus, is a misunderstood and unappreciated hero of the New Testament and the earthly father of God’s heavenly Son. Let that sink in; it could not have been easy. 

Jesus was the true offspring of Mary and the Holy Spirit. Male humanity was not involved. That is unprecedented. How do you respond to that as a father? How do you manage that as a family? As we revisit this story, let’s remember that they lived this. They were people with passions just like us (James 5:17).

It had to be a crazy adventure for Joseph, and it all started with a bang. One day, he hears from his betrothed, Mary, that she has become pregnant by a miraculous work of God. His life and future now appear ruined. As he is trying to figure out what to do, an angel shows up to comfort him. He tells him it’s true and what he must do. He obeys. 

The next couple of years are a whirlwind of intrigue and near catastrophes. Faced with the societal consequences of a pregnancy outside of marriage, they quietly slip out of Nazareth. Any public knowledge would jeopardize Jesus’ future involvement in the synagogue. They probably stayed with Zacharias and Elizabeth before going on to Bethlehem – only three miles further down the road. Guided by Old Testament prophecies predicting the birth in Bethlehem, the census serves as a perfect cover for their discreet relocation.

After Jesus’ birth and after fulfilling the Temple requirements, Joseph and Mary returned to Nazareth. The Magi, guided by a divine hand, miraculously find them. They honor the child with lavish gifts. After the Magi leave, God intervenes once again, waking Joseph in the night with a dire warning: “Get up and leave immediately, Herod’s men are coming for you and the child.” (Matthew 2:13). The family barely makes it out of town in time. They go to Sepphoris, a bustling nearby Roman city, and then travel to Egypt. They use the gifts from the Magi as money to live on until Herod is dead, and they can return to Nazareth.

The adventure continues. What father comes prepared to raise the sinless Son of God? Even though Jesus was fully human, aspects of His desires and motivations had to be at odds with their lifestyle and expectations. Joseph essentially had joint custody of Jesus with the God of the universe. How does that work? Jesus may not even have looked like His half-brothers and half-sisters. Jesus, as the oldest son, would have been expected to take over the family business. But, He had no desire for that. He spent most of His time in the synagogue reading the scriptures or alone in prayer with His heavenly Father. This had to cause tension within the family.

They knew Jesus’ significance as the Messiah but struggled to understand His path. Tradition anticipated a great leader like King David. No one realized that the Messiah should first come as a Suffering Servant and die for their sins on the Cross. How could they grasp that He was the human-born Son of God? Who thinks of that as a possibility? 

There was an instance when Jesus was 12 when His family traveled to Jerusalem. Something they did every year. But this year, Jesus decided to stay and didn’t feel the need to tell anybody. A day later, while on the road, Joseph and Mary realized He was missing. After frantically searching through their extended family, they traveled back to Jerusalem. Three more days, and they finally found Him in the temple, casually conversing with the priests. Astonished, Mary asks the standard parent question, “Son, why have you treated us this way? Your father and I have been beside ourselves looking for you.” I’ve been there as a father, and probably so have you. 

Jesus responds flatly, “Why have you been looking for me, wouldn’t you know that I would be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49) Think about that. He’s telling His earthly father that he should’ve known he would be in his heavenly Father’s house. Wow! Joint custody is a difficult thing. Especially when the other father is God. Even Jesus had to be a teenager once.

Jesus goes back with them to Nazareth, and this is the last we hear of Joseph. By the time Jesus started His ministry, if Joseph were still alive, he would be around 50 years old. Most men didn’t live that long. 

Jesus, of course, never took over the family business, and His ministry and teachings ultimately got Him killed. The family only fully grasped Jesus’ identity as the Son of God after His resurrection. However, none of this would’ve happened without Joseph and his thankless efforts. He never fully comprehended his prominent place in eternal history. 

“And these all were commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised. For God had provided something better for us, so that they would be made perfect together with us.” Hebrews 11:39-40 

When you hear his story this Christmas, realize these were real people. Ordinary people, walking out their part within the big picture of God. They didn’t understand it all. We are just like them.

 Take time to reflect on these people. Allow this meditation to deepen your appreciation of the profound journey they undertook. Then consider that you, too, have a role in God’s plan. You may not see it or understand it, but God and you are at work on one beautiful story.